Standing in the backfield, eyes darting left to right is the running back, No. 17. Paul Freeman ’84 takes the snap from the center and hands off to No. 17, who finds a hole in the defense and runs 22 yards for a Red touchdown. The touchdown preserves an undefeated season for the 1982 Red sprint football team. That No. 17 is Donald Schiavetta ’84, who became the first Cornell tailback to rush for over 500 yards when he recorded 626 yards that season. The Schiavetta name has become a recurring theme in Cornell sprint football.

In 2009, little has changed. Standing in the backfield, eyes darting left to right is the running back, No. 17.

Donald’s son, D.J., who also sports No. 17, is the current running back and team captain for the sprint football team. D.J. was initially a defensive player for the Red, but has made a smooth transition to the vital tailback role. Schiavetta has tallied over 100 yards on the ground twice this season and has proved that he can act as a dual threat receiver out of the backfield. Schiavetta and first-year starting quarterback Elliot Corey have connected for 88 yards through the first three games.

“We utilize his offensive skills as a kick returner on special teams and as our go-to person in the backfield,” said senior co-captain Mike Adler. “He really knows how to make plays and come up clutch when we need it. He consistently is able to give us that extra push.

Schiavetta has been giving the Red that push as a touchdown machine. He has recorded four total touchdowns for the Red: three rushing and one receiving. On special teams, Schiavetta returns punts and kicks for the Red and leads the team in all-purpose yards with 480 — 160 yards per game for the season. The Red will rely on Schiavetta to continue to produce with four games remaining this season.